Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-07-20
MURDER OR ACCIDENT.


Under the above caption The Milwau-
kee Sentinel of Monday contains the fol-
lowing regarding the discovery of the
body of James Killian, son of our former
resident Michael Killian. The victim of
this murder or accident was employed
for some years with Woodland & Stone in
their bakery:
yesterday morning report was cur
rent on the streets that murder had
been committed, the victim being found
dead at the foot of stairway on Grand
avenue, with his skull fractured. No
credence was given the report by the
police authorities, who consider the mans
death accidental, and an investigation by
Sentinel reporter failed to disclose any
information to confirm the report.
The victim of the accident-or what
ever it may prove to be-is James Killian,
"a years of age, who lived with his father,
Michael Killian, at 222 Sixth street. He
was baker employed by Carpenter &
Underwood About 7 O'Clock yesterday
morning Killian's bod y was found lying
at the foot of stirway leading to the
basement ia the rear of Dadd's drug store,
221 Grand avenue. So firmly was the
body held between the bottom step and
the door that it was with much difficulty
that it was freed. A large crowd of peo-
pie was attracted to the scene, and the
hole in the skull with the finding of the
body in such place probably gave rise
to the report of murder having been COM
mitted. Shortly after the removal of the
body to the morgue it was identified by
the aged father of the deceased, the scene
being a most affecting one. Assistant
Coroner OFT thought that the young man
had fallen into the stairway while intoxi-
Gated, fracturing his skull against the
bricks on which were elots of blood and
hair. He had not examined the body to
see whether his neck was broken, prefer
ring that it should be left to the physicians
at the post-mortem examination TO deter
mine the cause of bis death.
Adjoining Dadds drug store, where
the body was found, is the saloon of Den
ming & Donohue. One of the proprietors
said that Killian had been in the saloon
after 10 o'clock in the morning. He ap-
peared intoxicated and had several more
drinks there, paying for them himself,
but exhibited ne large amount OF money.
Several persons were in the saloon at the
time. The proprietor noticed Killian go
ing out the back door and called out to
him to come back, but he paid no atten-
ton. In his opinion, Killian. after leay-
ing the saloon and going into the yard,
which is all one behind the saloon and
drug store, started up back stairway
leading to apartments over the drug store
Probably stopping to sit on the banister
he fell over into the cellar stairway
where he was found. But the men in
the rear of the saloon did not hear any
noise, he says"
After an investigation the police re-
ported that everything indicated that
James Killian's death was purely acct
dental, and consequently no coroner's
jury was held. The body of the deceased
was brought to this city yesterday morn
ing and the funeral held from st. Der
nard's church, the remains being laid to
to rest in st. Demands cemetery.
It will be remembered that shortly be-
fore the family removed from here to Mil
waukee, a younger brother, while having
playful scuff1e, was killed by the acct
dental discharge of loaded pistol. Sure
ly the parents are entitled to sympathy
for the great trials they are called upon
! to sustain.